2683-Aalsma, Matthew

Matthew C. Aalsma, PhD

Jonathan and Jennifer Simmons Professor of Pediatrics

Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Children's Health Services Research, Division Director

Phone
(317) 274-8812
Address
410 West 10th Street
Suite 1001
Indianapolis, IN 46202
PubMed:

Bio

Dr. Aalsma is the Johnathan & Jennifer Simmons Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. He is Director of the Child Health Services Research Division and the Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program. Trained as a juvenile forensic psychologist, Dr. Aalsma has focused his research on improving outcomes among vulnerable populations, including youth in the behavioral health and carceral systems. He has authored nearly 150 publications related to the health and well-being of youth, produced through 20 years of continuous extramural research funding (e.g. NIH, AHRQ, HRSA). His current research agenda includes exploring system-wide and individual efforts to improve the utilization of mental and physical health care among children and adolescents. This includes enhancing health risk screening across care settings and testing a variety of strategies to improve connection to evidence-based services for youth at all points in the legal process (diversion to incarceration). Most recently, he and colleagues have sought to improve addiction treatment options as adolescent overdose deaths have risen tremendously in the last several years.

Health and Justice Lab

Key Publications

Smoker MP, Mattey-Mora PP, Aalsma MC, et al. Familial risk factors required to predict earlier adolescent substance use in youth with externalizing disorders. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Published online April 9, 2026. doi:10.1037/adb0001144

O’Reilly LM, Adams ZW, Schwartz K, Aalsma MC, et al. Organizational readiness and program sustainability within Juvenile Justice and Community Mental Health: The mediating role of cross-system collaboration. Implementation Science Communications. Published online April 10, 2026. doi:10.1186/s43058-026-00919-

Siegal N, Simon K, Gupta S, Aalsma M, et al. 236. access to buprenorphine medication for opioid use disorder among adolescents and young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2026;78(3). doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.12.238

Jaguga F, Turissini M, Aalsma MC, et al. A pilot randomized controlled trial to explore the feasibility of a peer-delivered single-session brief intervention for youth with moderate risk substance use. PLOS One. 2026;21(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0344661

Kampman H, Aalsma M, Monahan P, Guerrero N. Racial discrimination and mental health among Latine Adolescents: Parenting and conflict as potential moderators. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Published online April 7, 2026. doi:10.1007/s40615-026-02956-6

Dellucci TV, O’Reilly L, Aalsma MC, Adam ZW, et al. Structural minority stress predicts suicidality, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors among sexual minority adolescents. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Published online March 26, 2026. doi:10.1037/sgd0000887

O’Reilly LM, Dellucci TV, Aalsma MC, Guerrero N. Discordance between thoughts of death and suicidal ideation among latinx youth and caregivers in the United States. Journal of Adolescence. Published online March 23, 2026. doi:10.1002/jad.70143

Guerrero N, Dellucci T, Stein G, Aalsma M. 212. Latine Teen Depression and discrimination: Roles of family ethnic socialization and support. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2026;78(3). doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.12.214

Aalsma MC, Schwartz K, Sun D, Wiehe S, et al. Learning health systems and substance use care cascade achievement among Justice-involved youth. JAMA Network Open. 2026;9(2). doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.58222

Siegal N, Gupta S, Miles J, Samples H, Simon K, Aalsma M, et al. Medicaid expansion and buprenorphine dispensing in early vs recent expansion states. JAMA Network Open. 2026;9(2). doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.59803

Looking for patient care?

To schedule an appointment with a faculty member physician of IU School of Medicine, contact Indiana University Health at 888-484-3258 or use the physician finder by clicking the button below.
Find a doctor